Clamping mechanism for turret-lathes



(No Model.) F. H. RICHARDS.

GLAMPING MBG'HANISM'POR TURRBT LATHES. No. 496,001. Patented Apr. 25,18931.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. F. H. RICHARDS.

GLAMPING MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATHES.

No. 496,001. Patented Apr. 25, 1-893.

d6 (37 66 a 1 I A WWW/ewes: J Invenzor:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS I-I. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WALTERWOOD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR TURRET-LATHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,001, dated April25, 1893.

I Application filed March 29, 1892. Serial No.426,950- (N model.)

To 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClamping Mechanism for Turret-Lathes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to clamping-mechanism for the turrets ofturret-lathes; the object being to provide means for clamping the turretdiametrically and longitudinally at the same time, and also for lockingthe turret against rotation.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a horizontal section (on line a a, Fig. 2) of the turret ofa turret-lathe furnished with my present improvements; the turret beingshown mounted on the usual turret-slide. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe turret and slide, in line b b of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view, similarto Fig. 1, of a modification of the mechanism, the view being taken inline 0 c of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical section in line (Z d of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Figs. 1 and 3,

of a further modification of the mechanism,

this view being taken in line 6 e of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a verticalsection of the same, in line of Fig. 5.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures. I

In the drawings, the usual turret-slide D is shown provided with thehollow turret-carrying column 2, which is preferably formed integralwith said slide, and is centrally bored at 3 to receive thebolt-actuating wedge or cam; which cam, in the present instance, isshown formed on the lower end of a bolt or shaft, 4, to whose upper endis secured the cam-actuating lever 24, by means of which the operatormay lock the turret to the turret-carrying column, or unlock the sametherefrom.

In the turret-clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is thepreferred form thereof, the turret E is shown bored to fit closely andturn freely on the column 2 of the slide D,andhasaseries ofdetent-notches, 6, formed therein to receive the wedge-shaped end, 7, ofthe lock-bolt 8. Said notches 6 should correspond in number to theseries of tool-holding sockets 9, which are in the present instance sixin number. The column 2 is mortised at 10 to receive the said lock-bolt8, which is fitted for longitudinal movement in said mortise. The innerend of the bolt 8 is shaped, at 12, Fig. 2, to bear against thewedge-shaped face 13 of the shaft 4. Said column 2 is also mortised at14 and 16, to receive the turret-clamping slides 15 and 17, and theshoes, or bearing-blocks, 18 and 19, respectively; the inner ends of thesaid slides are inclined as shown in Fig. 2, to bear against thecorrespondingly-shaped faces, as 20, on said shaft 4. The upper end ofthe shaft 4 is threaded to receive the threaded hub, or nut, 23, whichis provided with one or more arms, or levers, 24, for turning the sameto draw said shaft upward and force outwardly the lock-bolt 8, and theslides 15 and 17 an their respective shoes.

For the purpose of retracting the shaft '4' when the nut 23 isunscrewed, a spring, 21', (shown in section in Fig. 2) is arranged tobear downwardly against a shoulder on said shaft, and to react againstthe nut 22, which is screwed into the upper end of the column 2.

When the cam-shaft is drawn up, the'cam, or incline, 12, forces forwardthe lock-bolt 8 to engage in the turret-notch, while the cams 20-20drive out the slides 15 and 17 to force the shoes 18 and 19,respectively, against the inner surface of the turret, as shown in Figs.1 and 2. When the turret is to be turned, the shaft 4 is first retractedto relieve the clamp-slides and lock-bolt, when the turret may berevolved in the usual manner, either by hand or by means of aratchet-mechanism not shown.

For the purpose of clamping the turret longitudinally thereof, the hub23 is made to bear (or react) against a piece which is intermediate tosaid hub and the turret itself. As shown in Fig. 2, this intermediatepart, or

thrust-member, consists of the cap C, whose figures.

outer edge rests on the turret E, and whose hub or upper end supportssaid lever-hub 23 against downward movement.

When the operator turns the lock-bolt actuator (consisting in the lever24 and hub 23, or of some equivalent device) to draw up the shaft 4 ashereinbet'ore described, the power exerted (less the difference due tofriction) reacts downwardly upon the upper surface of the turret toclamp this firmly upon the turret-slide. The result of this distributionof the force applied is, obviously, to simultaneously lock the turret tothe column 2 and to draw the turret downwardly on said column againstthe turret-slide, thereby elfectually locking and clamping the turret atthe same time, by a single operation.

In the form of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings, the column 2 is mortised to receive a lock-bolt, 30, similarto the bolt 8 above described, and a slide, 31, which acts directlyagainst the face of the bore of the turret E, as illustrated in said Theactuating means, in this instance, consists of a rotatable shaft, 4',(otherwise similar to shaft 4 in Figs. 1 and 2,) whose enlarged lowerend, 32, has formed thereon the cam-faces 33 and 34 for actuating thelock-bolt 30 and the slide 31, respectshaft 4' engages the under side ofthe cap 0',

(similar to the cap 0,) which cap fits the upper end of the column 2, towhich it is secured by means of screws, as 38; the outer edge of the capC extends over the turret E, and thus serves to hold said turret downonto the turret-slide D. By rotating the shaft 4 in one or the otherdirection as the case may require, by means of the lever 24 and'the hub23', the lock-bolt and clamp are operated to lock the turret to thecolumn 2 or to unlock it therefrom.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the several details aresimilar to those just described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, exceptthat the column 2 is provided with two clamp-slides instead of one, andthat these two slides are similar to the slides 15 and 17 in Figs. 1 and2, and are like those furnished with adjustable shoes locatedintermediate to the said slides and the turret E. In this instance, thelower end, 32, of the shaft 4 has, of course, three cam-faces, 40, 41,and 42, to engage the inner ends of the lockbolt 45 and the slides 46and 47, respectively. The outer ends of the said slides 46 and 47 areconcaved to engage the convex inner sides of the shoes 48 and 49,respectively; by this means said shoes are made self-adjusting and thepressure is distributed equally to both ends thereof, thus insuring theproper fit and operation of the parts, and overcoming the effect of anyslight inequalities in the con struction of the mechanism.

The mode of operation of the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 issimilar to that of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 0n rotating theshaft 4, the lock-b0lt45 is forced outwardly into engagement with one ofthe detent-notches 6, and the slides 46 and 47 react against the bore ofthe turret through their respective shoes, thus simultaneously lockingand clamping the turret against rotation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a turret-lockingmechanism, the combination with the turret-carrying column and theturret revolubly mounted thereon, of a lock-bolt supported in saidcolumn, a clamp supported in the column opposite to the lockbolt andbearing against the inner surface of the turret, and a bolt-and-clampactuator intermediate to the lock-bolt andclamp for simultaneouslyoperating the same to lock and clamp the turret, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a turret-locking mechanism, the combination with theturret-carrying column and the turret revolubly mounted thereon, of alock-bolt supported in said column to slide radial] y thereof, a pair ofturret-clamps carried in said column opposite the lock-bolt, and abolt-and-clamp actuator intermediate to the lock-bolt and the pair ofclamps for simultaneously operating the same to lock and clamp theturret, substantially as described.

3. In a turret-locking mechanism, the combination with theturret-carrying column having the central opening, and with the turretrevolubly mounted on said column, of a lockbolt supported in the columnand adapted to engage the turret, a clamp supported in the columnopposite to the lock-bolt and bearing against the inner surface of theturret, a sliding bolt-and'clamp actuator in the turretopening andengaging said bolt and clamp, and means for sliding said actuatorlongitudinally of said column, substantially as described.

4. In a turret-locking mechanism, the combination with theturret-carrying column and with the lock-bolt and clamp carried thereby,of the turret revolubly mounted on said column, a lock-bolt actuatorsubstantially as described, a clamp. set on the turret, and means foroperating said actuator by reacting against said clamp, whereby theturret is simultaneously locked and clamped both diametrically andlongitudinally of the turret-column, substantially as described.

5. In a turret-locking mechanism, the combination With theturret-carrying column and with the turret revolubly mounted thereon, ofthe clamp-slide supported in the column, and the shoe bearing againstthe inner side of the turret and fitting the end of the clamp-slide, andmeans for actuating said slide to force the shoe against the turret,snbstantially as described.

6. In a turret-locking mechanism,the combination with theturret-carrying column and with the turret revolubly mounted thereon, ofthe sliding lock-bolt, the turret-clamps, the sliding actuator-shafthaving cam-faces hearing against said bolt and clamps, means foroperating said shaft to actuate the lock-bolt, and means for retractingsaid shaft, snbstan- IO tially as shown and described.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses.

HENRY L. REOKARD, HANS MALLNER.

